Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has offered crucial advice regarding the utilization of all-rounder Washington Sundar, stressing the importance of clear role definition to harness his full potential. Ashwin's comments come amid ongoing discussions about Sundar's fluctuating position in the playing XI during the recent engagements against South Africa.
The Core of Ashwin's Argument: A Bowler First
Speaking on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin presented a straightforward solution to the Washington Sundar conundrum. He asserted that once the team management decides to field the Tamil Nadu cricketer, they must view him primarily as a bowling asset who contributes with the bat.
"Once you have decided to play Washington Sundar, you've to treat him as a bowler who can bat. You've to bowl out his overs," Ashwin stated. He elaborated that consistent bowling responsibilities would foster the right mindset. "Only if he keeps bowling, he'll have the mindset of a bowler who can bat. Otherwise if he just bats and bowls a few overs, he'll keep searching who he is. So don't leave him in the searching space."
Ashwin concluded that the team must arrive at a definitive role for Sundar to provide him with the necessary clarity to perform.
A Pattern of Unclear Roles
Ashwin's observations are rooted in recent team selections where Sundar's role appeared ambiguous. This pattern was evident in both the Test and ODI series against South Africa.
In the Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Sundar was surprisingly promoted to bat at number three. He played a commendable, stoic innings on a difficult pitch, though India suffered a 30-run defeat. However, in the subsequent Test in Guwahati, he was pushed down the order. Similarly, in the ODI series, his batting position oscillated between five and six in Ranchi and Raipur, while he was given only a limited bowling workload of seven overs across matches.
Dinesh Karthik's Warning on Batting Promotion
Former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik also weighed in on the debate, specifically cautioning against viewing Sundar's promotion to No. 3 in Tests as a long-term strategy. He pointed out that such a move sends a conflicting message about the team's expectations from the all-rounder.
"Where is Washington Sundar the Test player, being looked at? Is he a bowler who can bat? Now if you are sending him at three, you are almost telling him that he needs to focus a lot more on batting," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Karthik highlighted the practical challenges, noting that increased focus on batting practice would inevitably reduce time spent on bowling. "The moment he starts spending those long hours for batting in practice, you tend to reduce your practice for bowling because it is physically impossible to be good at both. So the message is very straightforward that we are looking at big runs from you. This could affect his bowling in the long run. It is a very tricky one," he added.
The Path Forward: Clarity is Key
The consensus from experts like Ashwin and Karthik underscores a critical issue in modern cricket management: the necessity of role clarity for multi-skilled players. For Washington Sundar, a talent capable of contributing significantly in both departments, a defined primary function could be the key to unlocking consistency.
The Indian cricket team management now faces the task of integrating this feedback. Deciding whether Sundar is a frontline bowling option or a batting all-rounder will directly impact his preparation, game time, and ultimately, his performance on the international stage.
